Kopek Des Bordes Heads the Market for the Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas
Four runners are declared for the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas, offering a €55,000 guaranteed prize pool over two miles of good to yielding turf.
Race details: 2m Grade 3 chase at Naas carrying a €55,000 guaranteed prize pool.
- Contenders: Four runners line up, headlined by Kopek Des Bordes and Irish Panther.
- Weights: Scale ranges from 10-4 up to 11-1 across the four-runner turf contest.
Kopek Des Bordes heads the market off an official rating of 160. Sporting Life noted the eight-year-old won the Supreme Hurdle in 2025 and had just the one run over fences (cruised clear in a Navan maiden) prior to finishing second in the Arkle last season. A clear round should suffice for the Willie Mullins-trained runner, though jumping remains the primary variable after he fell two out in a Grade 1 at Punchestown.
| Runner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer | Official Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kopek Des Bordes | 8 | 10-4 | Josh Williamson | A McCann | 98 |
| Irish Panther | 6 | 11-1 | Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 160 |
| Not Listed Sorter | 9 | 11-1 | Kieren Buckley | E & P Harty | 152 |
Irish Panther stands as the clear second choice in the four-runner lineup. Racingpost.com reported that Kopek Des Bordes had the measure of Irish Panther when falling at Punchestown. Paul Townend takes the mount for trainer W P Mullins on the six-year-old.
The nine-year-old contender trained by E & P Hart carries 11-1 under Kieren Buckley. Sporting Life described this runner as a reliable sort who won three of five starts last season, including a Grade 2 at Punchestown, but noted that conceding weight all round on his return is a tough ask.
The fourth runner, weighted at 10-4 for A McCann, is a three-time winning hurdler still seeking a maiden victory over fences. Sporting Life reported that this runner appears hopelessly out of depth against the higher-rated principals in the Class 1 event.
The €32,395 first-place prize awaits the winner of the 14:42 off time.
The contest is open to four-year-olds and upwards that have not won a chase before May 4, 2025. Weight allocations are set at 10st 11lbs for four-year-olds and 11st 1lbm for five-year-olds and older. Penalty terms dictate extra weight for previous chase victories, with four pounds added for two wins, seven pounds for three wins or a Grade 3 triumph, nine pounds for two Grade 3 wins or a Grade 2 success, and thirteen pounds for a Grade 1 victory.
Fillies and mares receive a seven-pound allowance, while horses that have not won a chase before February 1, 2026, claim four pounds. The complete prize structure awards €32,395.00 to first place, €10,395.00 to second, €4,895.00 to third, and €2,145.00 to fourth.